The quest for leadership in multilateral institutions: Great power rivalries and middle powers in the WTO

Abstract

This article investigates the great power rivalry of the US and China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the lens of cooptation dynamics. First, it argues that the accession of China to the WTO is a case of top-down cooptation meant to tame opposition to the US-led international order and to restrain China from security competition. Second, it explains why this cooptation deal was not durable and led to feedback effects that fueled the US’ loss of interest in maintaining a powerful WTO. Third, it shows how the WTO crisis triggers a current bottom-up effort by middle powers to re-stabilize the WTO through the mechanism of Joint Statement Initiatives, which attempt to re-commit the US to leadership. The article shows that the US’ undermining of the WTO and the institutional reaction it evokes in other members are part of a reactive sequence dynamic driven by failed cooptation bargains.